Paul Turner’s Blog

Q: In a Minister of Holy Communion Training I attended a year or so ago, you discussed the philosophy of […]

Q: As a deacon, I regularly assist at communal anointings of the sick and wonder where the hands should be

Q:  Is the priest who “says” Mass properly called the CELEBRANT or PRESIDER?  A view is being pressed here that

Q: What is our diocesan policy of weddings during Lent? == A: The same as the universal church policy. Weddings

Q: When there are concelebrants in the entrance procession, do they go in front of or behind the deacon carrying

Q: This year February 2 falls on a Saturday. Can our parish celebrate the Feast of the Presentation at the regular

Q: Is it permitted to use a common verse with the gospel acclamation at Sunday Masses during the seasons? As

Q: A merry Advent . Please confirm when the Advent wreath is dismantled and the crib. Blessings for Christmas  == A:

Q: Please see the attached article on intinction. Is what’s being proposed really appropriate? How do you place an intincted

Q:  I am working with a couple who are getting married in April. It is a mixed marriage where the

Q:  My sister is getting married in July, and she wants a Litany of Saints to be sung during her

Q:  Why was St. Joseph’s name only inserted in EP 2, 3, and 4, and not the others (realizing that

Q:  Is there a Vatican Document requiring communion minister training on the diocesan level? == A:  In 1997 several offices

Q:  I have a grandmother who has just received custody of her 2 grandchildren and she wants to get them

Q: We are now using the extra copy of the Roman Missal we had since the other one has pretty

Q:  I have ordered the Excerpts from the Roman Missal for my parish. One of my priests is thinking we

Q:  I’m a married layman, and I’ve been praying the Liturgy of the Hours for about five months; morning and

Q:  I am a new sacramental preparation coordinator for a private, catholic elementary school that does not belong to/have attached

Q:  A query: Where in The Roman Missal would one find the Eucharistic Prayers for Masses with Children? There are such texts,

Q:  Kindly remind me what is the significance of the priest breaking off a tiny fragment of the consecrated host

Can we do a Reception into the Full Communion of the Catholic Church for several non Catholic Christians the Easter

Q:  Does the pastor need the Bishop’s permission to confirm a candidate during a Full Profession of Faith at a

Q:  An old Bishop explained to me that the usual rule when it comes to identifying a Sunday within a

Q:  This year as the First Sunday of Lent falls on a long weekend in Australia, we plan to transfer

Q:  When the new English translation for the Order of Baptism for Children comes out, will the new US appendix

Q:  Is it correct that formerly the rubrics instructed the priest and Eucharistic ministers to hold the host with the

Q:  Is it permissible to use food essence to colour holy water blue so a person knows the water is

Q:  What is the current thinking about a priest saying a private Mass with no one to respond to the

Q:  Can you recommend daily Advent reflections? == A:  My friends at Celebration magazine are offering a daily email meditation.

Q:  I ran across this on a blog recently: In the event that Immaculate Conception falls on a Saturday,  “In

Q:  The Director of Liturgy and Music at the parish where I am the new associate is insisting that the

Q:  As I understand it, the Lectionary readings for marriage prior to the reforms of Vatican II were Ephesians 5:20-33

Q:  For weddings, is the Liturgy of the Word restricted to the texts listed in the OCM or are other

Q:  In your book, One Love, you state that the Nuptial Blessings now include “an invocation for the Holy Spirit

Q:  The Book of Blessings implies that there is no recitation of the creed when the Advent Wreath to be

Q:  I have a question on the old Roman Ritual book which was published in 1946. Is this book still

Many older Catholics and their non-practicing children/ grandchildren call at the last minute for a priest to administer the Last

Q:  Are there any specific guidelines concerning appropriate Mass intentions. I’m thinking about an intention like, “for the intentions of

Q:  I am asking you to suggest a good book to help parents for the Baptism of their child and

Q:  On the topic of “the priest’s communion” it seems odd to me that the priest would receive communion first.

Q:  If a conference of bishops has decided not to include the Feast of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Eternal High

Q:  May we include the Fatima prayer when reciting the rosary? == A:  The prayer was included in the description

Q:  We have invited a Vietnamese priest to celebrate Mass on an upcoming weekday. A member of our community has

Q:  I understand that the local ordinary may bestow the apostolic blessing with plenary indulgence within his own territory three

Q:  My priest has the server ring the bell when he (the priest) receives communion. Is that correct? == A:

Q:  I am curious about why the New Testament 2nd readings in the lectionary are attributed to St. Paul, St.

Q:  I have a couple inquiring about a wedding Mass next Saturday, November 2, 2019. If I am reading my

Q:  I wonder if you might be able to share any insights regarding the design of reconciliation rooms or confessionals

Q:  May I celebrate a mass for the dead on a day when there is an obligatory Memorial? == A: 

Q:  I  have been approached by a university student who was baptized Catholic. She received Communion and was Confirmed in

Q:  If members of the entrance procession are carrying something (a rose), do they reverence the altar or keep the

Q:  Our Latin teacher asked me about what “Lord of hosts” means. I told him I thought it meant Lord

Q:  Our parish would like to have a Mass honoring Our Lady of Guadalupe on the Sunday before December 12.

Q:  When the Monstrance is placed on the altar for adoration should a corporal be placed under the Monstrance? Should

Q:  In a recent article in our parish bulletin, a staff member was writing on the Sacrament of Reconciliation. In

Q:  The customer called me regarding the entrance antiphon for the Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time: Within your will, O

Q:  If we have relics exposed for veneration on the feast of a saint, when do they get incensed? ==

Q: I have had several requests to use the song, The Battle Hymn of the Republic, as a hymn and

Q:  When will this new edition of the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults be available?  Will there be any

Q:  I was sharing your recent post with someone and they had a different opinion on the matter.  They state….

Q:  Your bulletin insert, for 10/14/18, on the Rosary is great. Each day for many years I have said 4

Q:  What choices does the Presider have for a  Communion prayer during the week? Some presiders always use the prayer

Q:  Is it permissible in place of pure olive oil to use oils associated with a particular country as a

Q:  Please alert me to liturgical documents that encourage silence at various intervals throughout Mass and other liturgical celebrations. ==

Q:  What do you think of the proposal for Catholics in the US to stand for the second half of

I was asked today: Can we place flowers “under” the altar? Ours is free standing. == I would say yes.

Q:  My question relates to participation of lectors in the entrance procession at Sunday Mass. Our parish does not have

Q:  How many godparents are you supposed to have for baptisms?  I was under the impression that cannon law states

Q: Tonight, after mass, a man came to me with some questions on why we have 2 forms of today’s

Q:  This was asked of my by one of our priests:   When is the first instance in the Eucharistic

Q:  Can you tell me the proper rubrics for incensing- or not doing so- when there is an urn instead

Q:  Is there an authorized version of Holy Communion Outside of Mass that we can purchase that uses the post 2011 texts?

Q:  Not a question, but a comment on the latest post concerning Funeral Vigils. When I am asked to preside

Q:  I went to St. Meinrad as a Theology Student. The monks would do various night vespers and candlelight processions

Q:  What would you like to see the Australian 2020 Plenary Council address about our Catholic liturgy: my concerns include

Q:  Please clarify when the Children’s Eucharistic Prayers may be used. I am increasingly concerned about the user friendliness of

Q:  I continue to read your blog with great interest and gratitude. In a beautiful Abbey where I celebrate Mass

Q:  What is your opinion regarding these two announcements from our Parish Bulletin. We have one monthly Sunday Children’s Mass.

Q:  I saw on Facebook your posting for your latest book “Scripture Backgrounds for the Sunday Lectionary”.  Can you educate

Q:  I am reading your book Light in the Darkness … having recently revised the diocesan directives for funerals. Hopefully

Q:  is it possible for an individual to be fully initiated to the faith during their Matrimony Liturgy? Could they

Q:  We celebrate baptisms during mass at our parish.  Is it alright for our Permanent Deacon to baptize during mass,

Q:  I know that in the past only sacramental wine from church-approved sources with no additives, tannins was allowed for

Q:  After reading your response to a recent blog posting regarding the use of Funeral Rites, I have a question.

Q:  I will appreciate your guidance in effort to not only establish unity among our lay leaders of prayer but

Q:  My understanding is that we may not have catholic funeral rites for someone who will not be either buried

Q:  Are the faithful to strike the breast three times during the Confiteor? In the January 2012 Newsletter from the

Q:  What are your thoughts on adding prayers after communion such as the Prayer to St. Michael the Archangel that

Q:  When we bring the incense to the Celebrant prior to the gospel, if the Celebrant is a bishop, he

Q:  I’ve received a request to set up 40 Hours Devotion here at my parish. As I have never seen

Q:  At mass with a bishop, when there are 2 deacons, which one of them handles the Universal Prayer? ==

Q:  At mass with the bishop, when there are two deacons, the deacon of the word sets the book of

Q:  Are we permitted to celebrate St. Teresa of Calcutta at Mass on September 5? == A:  Yes. She is

Q:  I am assisting at a wedding Mass this weekend, and it seems that there may have been a misunderstanding

Q:  Is there a required percentage for alcohol in altar wine? I’ve heard it has to be between 5 and

Q:  Please forgive me for imposing on you as I know you are one of the busiest people around, but

Q:  There was a question that came up in regards to the pastoral application of Redemptionis Sacramentum #92 which states:

Q:  Does one use all three readings for a feast day on a weekday mass, for example the Feast of

Q:  On December 8th of this year will be a Saturday and the Holy Day of Obligation as the Immaculate

Q:  I just noticed that it might require the Pope’s permission for me to celebrate 3 Masses on ordinary weekdays: